It'll come down to home runs, and Hamilton's case improved when he returned this week from a five-game absence after being diagnosed with a cornea-drying condition brought on by the slugger's heavy use of caffeine.

Does the Hamilton diagnosis decide the Triple Crown, or does Cabrera do it himself? I'll take Cabrera, given he has eight games left against the Royals and Twins, while Hamilton faces the playoff-contending A's and Angels.

It's remarkable that Miguel Cabrera has given himself a shot to win the Triple Crown, but I don't think he's going to pull it off.

The odds are stacked against him. He took an 0-for-3 Tuesday, his batting average dropped two points and suddenly he was only three points ahead. As of Wednesday afternoon, he led the Angels' Mike Trout by five points

Even if Cabrera does finish strong, he can be taken down by any of four guys in the home run race — Josh Hamilton, Adam Dunn, Edwin Encarnacion and even Curtis Granderson, who is two behind Cabrera. The finish on the road at Minnesota and Kansas City works against him too. But the only sure thing is this: It's going to be fun to watch.

If you look at the Tigers' schedule, Miguel Cabrera should win the Triple Crown. Detroit finishes the season with games against the Royals and the Twins.

But I think Josh Hamilton still will edge him in home runs. Hamilton has said: "He's got to hit more home runs. I'm not going to stop playing. But I'm rooting for him." That might be code for: "I see what you're trying to do and I'm not going to make it easy."

Let's remember that Hamilton is in a contract year, and it would behoove him to head into free agency as baseball's home run champ. Adam Dunn and Edwin Encarnacion also are in striking distance for that title, so it won't be easy for Cabrera.

Miguel Cabrera has a great chance to be the first Triple Crown winner since Boston's Carl Yastrzemski in 1967. Will he? No.

Despite facing the Twins and Royals — two of the AL's worst staffs — the rest of the regular season, Cabrera won't win the home run title because the Rangers' Josh Hamilton will make sure of it. The Rangers still have something to play for and Hamilton won't be taking time off.

Cabrera has the RBI title wrapped up and while he is barely ahead of Mike Trout for the batting title, he will hold on there. But it will take at least four homers down the stretch to complete the Triple Crown. The underachieving Tigers could use every one of them. Impossible? No. Will he pull it off? No.